Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'awkwardly'

English Word: awkwardly

Key Russian Translations:

• неловко [ˈnʲeləvkə] - [Informal, General Use]
• неуклюже [nʲɪˈuklʲuʐə] - [Informal, Often Physical Awkwardness]

Frequency: Medium

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate) for both translations

Pronunciation (Russian):

неловко: [ˈnʲeləvkə]

Note on неловко: Stress falls on the first syllable. The 'e' is pronounced as a soft 'ye' sound due to palatalization.

неуклюже: [nʲɪˈuklʲuʐə]

Note on неуклюже: Stress on the second syllable. The 'ж' produces a soft 'zh' sound, which may be challenging for non-native speakers.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

1. In a socially uncomfortable or embarrassing way

Translation(s) & Context:

• неловко - Used to describe social discomfort or embarrassment in speech or behavior.

Usage Examples:

• Он неловко попытался извиниться за опоздание.

  He awkwardly tried to apologize for being late.

• Она неловко засмеялась, не зная, что сказать.

  She laughed awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

• Я чувствую себя неловко, когда говорю на публике.

  I feel awkward when speaking in public.

2. In a physically clumsy or uncoordinated way

Translation(s) & Context:

• неуклюже - Refers to physical clumsiness or lack of grace in movement.

Usage Examples:

• Он неуклюже споткнулся и уронил книгу.

  He awkwardly tripped and dropped the book.

• Ребёнок неуклюже пытался завязать шнурки.

  The child awkwardly tried to tie his shoelaces.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

неловко: This is an adverb derived from the adjective "неловкий" (awkward). As an adverb, it does not inflect and remains unchanged regardless of context.

неуклюже: This is an adverb derived from the adjective "неуклюжий" (clumsy). Like "неловко", it does not inflect and remains constant in form.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

Synonyms for неловко (social awkwardness):

• смущённо
• застенчиво

Note: "смущённо" implies more embarrassment, while "застенчиво" suggests shyness.

Synonyms for неуклюже (physical awkwardness):

• топорно
• нескладно

Antonyms for both:

• уверенно (confidently)
• грациозно (gracefully)

Related Phrases:

• чувствовать себя неловко - To feel awkward or uncomfortable in a situation.
• неуклюже двигаться - To move awkwardly or clumsily.
• неловкое молчание - Awkward silence, often in social settings.

Usage Notes:

• "неловко" is the more versatile term and is used predominantly for social or emotional awkwardness. It can describe both a manner of action and a feeling.
• "неуклюже" is more specific to physical clumsiness and is less common in abstract or emotional contexts.
• When choosing between the two, consider the context: use "неловко" for social interactions and "неуклюже" for physical actions.

Common Errors:

Error 1: Using "неуклюже" to describe social awkwardness. For example, saying "Я неуклюже ответил на вопрос" (I awkwardly answered the question) sounds unnatural in Russian.

Correction: Use "неловко" instead: "Я неловко ответил на вопрос."

Explanation: "неуклюже" is tied to physical clumsiness, so it doesn't fit in conversational or social contexts.

Error 2: Overusing "неловко" as a direct translation without considering tone. For instance, "I awkwardly smiled" might not always translate to "неловко улыбнулся" if the context implies shyness rather than discomfort.

Correction: Consider alternatives like "смущённо улыбнулся" (smiled embarrassedly) if the nuance fits better.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressing or acknowledging awkwardness (especially social) is often done indirectly. Using "неловко" might come with a sense of personal discomfort or apology, reflecting a cultural tendency to avoid confrontation or overt embarrassment in social settings.

Related Concepts:

• смущение (embarrassment)
• застенчивость (shyness)
• неуклюжесть (clumsiness)